IT’S OVER!

ConTour, the 25th National Science Fiction Convention of New
Zealand, took place in Rotorua, New Zealand, over Easter Weekend,
Friday 9th April to Monday 12th April, 2004. Attendance was slightly
lower than average for recent New Zealand natcons, but, despite the
usual last-minute hitches that happen to any con, a good time was had
by all!

Thanks to our Guest of Honour, multi-award
winning SF author and physics professor Gregory Benford, for his contributions
to the convention. Further information about Gregory Benford can be
found on the SF Site, or his page at the University of Califonia.

Ross Temple was
the FanGOH for ConTour; his contribution to the con was also greatly
appreciated. Ross’s contributions to New Zealand fandom can be
explored further at his ‘Three Monkeys, Ten Minutes’
website. He is also a founder and current board member of the New
Zealand National SF body.

ConFlux, the Australian National SF convention
for 2004, which took place in Canberra over Anzac weekend (April 24th
to April 26th), and provided close cooperation with ConTour (see www.conflux.com.au)

Greenpeace New Zealand, dedicated to preserving
the environment for future generations, and the chosen charity for
ConTour (see www.greenpeace.org.nz).

And, of course, the convention committee,
volunteers, and all attending and supporting members of ConTour,
without whom the convention simply couldn’t have happened!

For your entertainment and edification, we also
include a filk performed at the ConTour masquerade by Horatio the
Puppeteer Drop Bear and Lady Niniane della Nueva Avalona, the Merry
Anachronists (aka Michael Woodhams and Catherine Pegg): ‘The Vampire Clambered O’er the
Wall’